Despite rampant opposition, including criticism from President Barack Obama, last Friday Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the toughest immigration law in the United States. The bill gives Arizona police full right to arrest illegal immigrants in Arizona – a state with over 450,000 illegal immigrants, mostly from neighboring Mexico.
The new law has created large demonstration in Arizona, prior to, during and since its signing. Protestors see the bill as having the potential for civil rights abuses. However, defending the Republican-led bill, Brewer said protestors were overreacting, and her administration would not tolerate civil rights abuses like racial profiling. She also said her state had lost patience waiting on Washington to act on immigration reform, and “decades of inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation."
The Arizona law, which takes effect in late July, makes it a crime for someone to be in the country illegally. It gives state police officers the right to question people about their immigration status if they suspect that they are illegal immigrants. It allows lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws; and makes it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or knowingly transport them. Those found guilty of being illegal immigrants would be deported. Also, under the law immigrants who are unable to produce documents proving their legal status could be arrested, jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500.
President Obama has called the bill "misguided" and has instructed the Justice Department to examine it to see if it is legal. He also said the federal government must enact immigration reform at the national level — or leave the door open to "irresponsibility by others."
Miami resident, Pablo Rodriquez, who is trying to get legal residence for relatives from his native Honduras, said the Arizona law makes him nervous. “I am afraid what happens in one Republican governed state could happen in another like Florida. Those Republicans want no immigrants, illegal or legal, in America. The president must ensure this madness against immigrants does not spread around the country. If not, all immigrants will be harassed day and night.”
South Florida’s Republican Congressional Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who supports comprehensive immigration reform, disagrees with the Arizona law. Diaz-Balart said the law alters American tradition and long-standing policy that makes immigration law enforcement a federal matter and it “strikes fear in the hearts of many American citizens and legal residents.”
Civil Rights advocate, Rev. Al Sharpton said on Monday he will travel to Phoenix and march in the streets to protest the law. Immigration Advocate, Lillian Rodriquez of the Hispanic Federation in New York City, also criticized the law. Sharpton and Rodriquez said they are prepared to commit civil disobedience to fight the implementation of the law.
The former governor of Arizona, Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, with responsibility for immigration matters, criticizing the law said, “That one is a misguided law. It's not a good law. But beyond that, what it illustrates is that other states now will feel compelled to do things."
Gwendolyn Marquez, a Miami immigration advocate, hates the new law, but said, “I am grateful for this crazy law. It will fire renewed energy in the White House to complete immigration reform. You watch what will happen now.”
Meanwhile, Mexico has issued a travel warning to its citizens entering the Arizona, cautioning them about becoming targets of the new law.
